Mail-crane



T. A. WHITE.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION HLED 061.13.1919.

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III

T. A. WHITE.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED 03T. I3, Isls.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921..

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ThomasA y UNITED STATES.

PATENT r OFFICE.

THOMASA. WHITE, 0F MONROE, LOUISIANA..`

MAIL-CRANE Appiiation filed october i3, i919. serial ivo. 330,331.

This invention relates to new and`useful improvements in railway mail appli-` ances, and more lparticularly to devices known as mail cranes, employed for the purpose of delivering mail to moving trains.

The primary object `of the invention is to provide a mail crane of this character, which will assume a position in parallel relation with its support, to maintain the maximum clearance between the track and supporting posts, when a mail pouch has been removed by a train, therebyleliininatingall danger of the train service nien being injured by the delivery arms, which ordinarily extend outwardly from their Suport.

A further object of the invention is to provide a delivery crane `which may `be lowered to a position to permita mail pouch to be easily and readily applied thereto, without the necessity of the operator leaving the ground, thereby eliminating the use of ladders, or steps employed in connecw tion with the usual mail cranes now in use.

A still further object of the `invention is to provide a mail crane having pivoted supporting hooks adapted to move laterally to assume a position substantially'parallel with the direction of travel of a train ren ceiving themail pouch from the crane,`thus eliminating any possibility of `the pouch supported bythe delivery hooks, hanging when the same are being removed, which hanging usually results in the tearing of the pouch.` p i With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the `description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in `the details of construction hereinafter .de-

scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the y invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what claimed,L with out departing from `the spirit of the inven tion.

Referring to the drawings igure 1 illustrates a side elevational View `of, a crane constructed inaccordance with `the present invention, the same being shown as supporting a mail pouch, the

dotted lines indicating thepositioii of the bag before the crane has been moved to its operative position. y Fig. 2 illustrates a fragmental detail view of the pivotal connection between the supporting arms, and the slidable frame.

` Fig. 3 illustrates a fragmental plan view of the delivery hooks.

. Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented lllal. 22, 1921.

Fig. 4 illustrates a side elevational view of a delivery hook and its support, Vthe saine being shown in a position at the `limit of one of its lateral movements.

F ig. 5` illustrates a sectionalview `taken on line5`5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 illustrates a front elevational view showing a delivery hook in itsnormal supporting position. .y

Referring to `the drawings in detail, the delivery crane is shown as including the vertical standard or support 5, which is formed preferablyof metal, and square in cross section, the same being :shown as disposed .inproper operating relation with the railway tracks 6, over which a train moves, when receiving the pouch from the delivery crane. y

A framez, includes the vertical bands 8,

y. to allow for free and easy movementof the frame?, along the support .5, so that the frame may be moved from a position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. lof the drawings, to its operative position also indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Each of the bands 9, has its ends apersupported in spaced relation with each other tured asat 11, to receive the pin 12, which pins 12 form bearings for the pivoted arms 13 and 14, the arm 13 having connection with the upper band 9, Aby the hinged joint as indicated by Fig. `2 ofthe drawings, which joint includes a Shoulder 15, cooper:

ating with the straight edge 16, of the arm 13, topermit the arm 13 to move vertically, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, but restricted from vertical movement, in the opposite direction.

The arm 14, has connection with its band 9, by a hinged joint the reverse of that infdicated by Fig. 2 of the drawing, and by Y wardly, beyond the position as indicated in solid lines, in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus it will be seen that when the pouch has been released, the arm 14 falls downwardlyv and assumes a position in parallel relation with thestandard 5. f Y

Disposed on'vthe outer end of each of the pivoted arms13 and 414, is a delivery` hook 17, which includes a supportpcomprising the side plates 18, spaced apart to embrace the side walls ofthe arms to which the same is applied,'the forwardportion of the support being curvedA asV at 19 and provided with a slotted portion 20, formed throughout the length of the curved portion, the slot extending downwardly fromlapoint intermediate the length of the curved portion,

asat721,the central portion of the wall of the slot 20, being recessedas' at 22,-to aci j commodate 'the delivery hook, to support the same in its normalposition.

pivot pin 23,v has connection with the support, and provides a bearing for one end of the delivery hook 17, whichv is curved to embrace thepin 23, and which is prevented `fromlateralfmovement with relation to the pivot pin 23, by means of the cotter pin 24 passing therethrough.

The 'outerV portion of the delivery hook 17, is providedvwith a' depressed portion 25, toaccommodate' the ring 26, forming a part of the usual mail pouch construction.

From the foregoing it is obvious that when a bag supported by the delivery hook 17 is removed therefrom,the force of the catch hook, carried by the train receiving the mail pouch, when the same engages the ymail pouch, causesv the delivery hook 17, to move from the recessed' portion 22, and assumes a position at one end of the slot, substantially parallel with the direction ot travel of thevtrain receiving the mail pouch, and since the delivery hook 17 moves downwardly, it will be seen Ythat the mail pouch supported thereby is easily disconnected Vfrom its supporting element.

I 'QA pulley27- vis' supported adjacent the upper end of the standard 5, and provides Va bearing for the flexible member 28, which maybe in the form eta rope or chain, the

upper end thereof, having connection with the upper arm 13, by means of the hinge member 29, which is disposed in close proximity with the pivot 11.

The lower end of the fiexible member 2S extends downwardly, and is provided with a ring 30, adapted to engage over the securing arm 31, positioned within the standard 5, to support the delivering arms in their operative position.

In the operation of the device, the device is lowered to the position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereupon the IieXible member 2S is loosened to permit the arm 13 to move down- .vardly, to assume a horizontal position, whereupon the upper ring 26 of the mail pouch 32, is positioned over the upper supporting hook 17, the lower ring 33 oi the mail pouch, is now positioned over the lower supporting` hook 17. The member 28 is now moved to raise the frame 7 to its upper position, the ring 30 being positioned over the hook 31, to secure the frame 7 in such position.

It is therefore obvious that when the bag 32 is removed from the delivery hook 17, the weight of the frame causes the same to descend on the standard 5, with the result that the arm 13 moves upwardly to a position as indicated in dotted lines, at the upper end of the standard 5, the lower arm 14 falling by gravity to the position as indicated in dotted lines directly under the lower end of the frame 7.

When the arms have moved to the posi` tions as just described, it is obvious that the maximum Vclearance between the delivery crane and train passing the same, is provided, with the result that possibilities ot the train service men becoming injured h v outwardly extending arms of mail cranes, are reduced to a minimum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a mail crane, a supporting standard, :1 frame movable longitudinally ot the `supporting standard, pivoted arms carried by the frame, a supporting hook carried by each arm, each supporting hook inclndine spaced side plates, a forward curved portion having its ends disposed between the side plates. said forward curved portion having a slot formed therein, a pivot pin disposed between the side plates, a hook member having one end formed into an eye and positioned over the pivot pin, and means for holding the hook member in its normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingr as my own, I have hereto atlixcd my si gna ture in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. IVHITE.

Witnesses:

` THOMAS N. HnRoN,

ROBERT LINDSEY. 

